Chapter 110
by Afuhfuihgs
Chapter 110
From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.
Episode 110: Your Student Is Awesome (2).
Opportunity cost exists everywhere.
If you devote your time to one research project, you inevitably have less time for another. It’s the same principle as spending money on black bean noodles instead of using that cash to buy seafood soup.
Tonight, I found myself at a crossroads of choices.
Professor Feynman: Midterms are over. How about lunch together?
Professor Stranov: I have to go on a business trip to the south. How about lunch together?
I was going a little crazy. Professors are busy people, often too pressed for time to even grab a sandwich. The fact that both wanted to meet for lunch meant they had something special in mind. It was a delightful situation, but I couldn’t satisfy both; I only had one body.
The deliberation didn’t take long.
“Thank you so much for being with me today, Mr. Reinhardt.”
In the end, I chose Professor Stranov. I’m sorry, Professor Feynman, but there was no other option for me. To immediately remove the Outer God attached to Ire, I needed Professor Stranov’s research. This isn’t a betrayal, not exactly. It truly couldn’t be helped.
“Shall we go to that restaurant over there?”
“Sounds good.”
Without much thought, I nodded. By the time I realized it was the professor’s trap, it was already too late. Damn, why is everything so expensive?
“Don’t worry about it. Just pick whatever you want. The meal will be charged to the lab’s group dining budget.”
“No, you should save even a little to add to the research fund….”
“This level of expense is fine. Our lab has plenty of money.”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words. The conversation flowed easily until the food arrived. In the appropriately mature atmosphere, Professor Stranov shifted to the main topic.
“Are you still very close with Professor Feynman?”
“Yes. We don’t interact often, but I think so.”
“……You don’t interact often, I see.” Professor Stranov nodded subtly.
“The master’s program—”
“I’m sorry, professor. If possible, I’d like to pursue an integrated master’s and doctoral program. I think I’ll stay at my own university for graduate school.”
I cut her off, sensing her disappointment. She still seemed attached to the idea of me joining her lab. Composing herself, she launched another attempt.
“Mathematics or philosophy might be different, but physics is a field where experiments are crucial. If the Reinhardt Group wishes, our lab can provide generous support for any experiments you plan.”
“Thank you for your concern, professor. However, I believe I need more time to decide on a lab.”
“Is that so? I suppose that’s true. Interests and aptitudes can change over time…”
Hope flickered in the professor’s eyes, but I was merely being evasive.
“What do you think of the resonator research I’m currently working on? Do you think it’s progressing well?”
Emboldened, she shifted the topic effortlessly. I had plenty to say about this.
“Ordinary mirror materials can’t contain the Outer God’s wavelength.”
“That’s a precise observation.”
“Therefore, we’re exploring specific methods to use the ‘Crystal’ from the Darwinian Outer God as the material.”
“Even the Incarnate-grade one?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that still insufficient?”
“It’s more of a financial issue than a technical one—ordering it comfortably from home comes with a hefty markup.”
I quickly added, noticing the twitch of the professor’s lips.
“Even labs with ample funds would find it burdensome.”
“That’s all due to the life allowance. Crystals are the crystallization of madness, and you have to be cautious when handling them.”
“Yes, anyway, it seems we need to trade directly…”
“It’s very dangerous.”
Professor Stranov and I locked eyes, and for a brief moment, my thoughts froze. We were in the southern region now, and she had mentioned she was here on a business trip. No way.
“Mr. Reinhardt, do you have time?” She smiled seductively.
Give and take. If you eat, you must work accordingly.
Wary of my surroundings, I boarded the shuttle, heading to the southernmost processing facility alongside Professor Stranov. As the name implies, this facility was tasked with cleaning up the excrement left by the Outer Gods.
“Just a month ago, the southern borderlands were a place teeming with blood and flesh—a true zone of death. If it weren’t for you scientists, we’d still be fighting here,” an inspector at the pier expressed, gratitude evident in his voice. It was a mark of respect for our work, and he offered a brief explanation of the situation.
The army of Darwin, led by the so-called
Yet, even in this land of death, where survival required protective gear, life persisted. These beings, with their immortal DNA, were perfect in their design. When processed under heat and pressure, their madness dissipated, transforming them into useful crystals.
“This is a crystal,” an S-rank inspector with purple epaulets announced, holding up a black crystal for us to see.
“It’s a crystal left by an A-rank monster. Due to its high strength and hardness, if processed correctly, it can outperform diamonds. It’s often used for cutting in industrial settings.”
The story intrigued me, though it wasn’t what we were searching for.
“Is there anything with high reflectivity? Preferably of Incarnate grade or higher.”
“There is, but…” The inspector’s tone shifted, growing solemn. He referenced a crystal obtained by a Great Omega rank inspector, who was part of the Virgo constellation of the Zodiac—at the cost of their life.
“Transparent like glass, pure like innocence, we decided to call this crystal…”
Virgo.
Its size was staggering—dozens of meters long.
“That should be enough to spread widely on the resonator.”
“It’s perfect for making a resonant mirror, Reinhardt,”
I shivered at the thought; I could sense she felt the same way.
“But there’s a problem. Since it seems to be a legacy of that person, the people from the same unit are opposed to selling it. It would be best if you could consult with them…”
I glanced at Professor Stranov. She nodded, chin held high.
“Alright, where are they?”
“This is something Captain Lacella obtained at the cost of her life. We absolutely cannot sell it!”
“That’s right, it’s like a keepsake!”
“If it’s enshrined in a museum, maybe, but to use it for scientific research is out of the question…!”
And so began the frustrating discussion. I stepped forward, hoping to convince them, but it felt futile. As I listened more closely, it became clear that these people held a strong belief in Eastern folk religion.
They spoke of the souls of the deceased being guided to the constellations inscribed with the remnants of the Outer Gods. It was a concept that felt familiar, something I had read about in the novel. However, the details were hazy and perplexing.
Damn it. I can’t just knock on the inspectors with calipers.
“Need help, kid?”
Keep your monkey paw still.
The God of ‘Wisdom and Curiosity’ slumps her shoulders.
No matter what, I didn’t want to seek Cartesia’s help in this matter. I intended to exhaust every option I had as a human. Just then, Professor Stranov gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Mr. Reinhardt, let me try.”
She stepped forward, but the inspectors still looked uneasy.
“How much will it take?”
“I told you, no matter how much you offer, it’s not for sale.”
“Even if it’s just a fragment, you cannot sell it?”
“What nonsense are you talking about! This decision is as sacred as Lady Lacella’s soul!”
“Hmm, this is troublesome.”
“Look, I don’t know how much money you have, but even if you offered 10 billion credits, we have no intention of selling.”
Ten billion. That was half the price I had paid for the Southern Sanctuary. I couldn’t help but chuckle, and Stranov mirrored my amusement.
“Hmm, then how about 100 billion credits?”
“One—one hundred billion?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you have that kind of money?”
“I keep telling you, even if you offered that much, not a speck of it—”
“200 billion.”
“……”
“Three hundred billion. Let’s settle it here.”
They stood there, dazed, their faces flushed with indignation as their final shred of pride kicked in.
“How much do you think our loyalty to the captain is worth——!!”
“Okay, five hundred billion.”
“…….”
“Everyone, are you perhaps thinking this? ‘That person doesn’t have any money; she’s just trying to con us.’ It’s our first meeting, but if you have such thoughts, I, Stranov, would be disappointed.”
The inspectors fell silent.
Here’s a little trivia: Stranov is one of the top ten families in the Federation, alongside Adelwein and Reinhardt.
They received one trillion.
“Kalis, my light, my soul, my flame.”
She remained silent.
“Your Excellency, from now on, I will leave the church and return to a secular life.”
Saying it was a way to keep a promise to the captain. They had provided everything from the Gold Zone subscription to child support.
“Professor, I sincerely hope you conduct great research.”
At that moment, I realized the true power of capital. This was the difference that funding could make in a lab. Professor Stranov moved the crystal to the cargo hold, then turned to me with an unwavering gaze.
I couldn’t quite place it, but the professor looked undeniably impressive.
“Cadet Reinhardt.”
She placed her hand on my shoulder and spoke with a calm authority.
“Shall we go and do some research now?”
I felt myself move, swept along like a grain of sand carried by the waves.
0 Comments